Fabrication of sulfide glass, sulfide glass preforms, and thin sulfide glass layers

Abstract

Li ion conductive sulfide glass, can be made by providing a pre-mix of precursor materials for making the Li ion conductive sulfide glass, providing a melting tank for processing the pre-mix to a molten state, and heating the melting tank to a temperature that is sufficient to melt form the Li ion conductive sulfide glass, wherein the melting tank is a metal vessel having inner wall surfaces that are coated with a corrosion resistant metal oxide layer.

1 . A method of making Li ion conductive sulfide glass, the method comprising:
 i) providing a pre-mix of precursor materials for making the Li ion conductive sulfide glass;   ii) providing a melting tank for processing the pre-mix to a molten state; and   iii) heating the melting tank to a temperature that is sufficient to melt form the Li ion conductive sulfide glass;   wherein the melting tank is a metal vessel having inner wall surfaces that are coated with a corrosion resistant metal oxide layer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the melting tank is a steel vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the corrosion resistant coating is a refractory oxide layer. 
     
     
         4 . A method of making thin Li ion conductive glass sheet, the method comprising:
 i) providing a draw tower for making thin glass sheet, the draw tower comprising a draw apparatus that interfaces with a melting tank to allow Li ion conductive sulfide glass to flow from the melting tank to the draw apparatus;   ii) loading the melting tank with a pre-mix of precursor materials for making the Li ion conductive sulfide glass;   iii) heating the melting tank to a temperature that is sufficient to melt process the pre-mix to a molten Li ion conductive sulfide glass;   iii) maintaining the melting tank at a temperature sufficient to allow the glass to flow;   iv) flowing the glass into the draw apparatus for making thin conductive glass sheet.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the draw apparatus is a slot draw apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the draw apparatus is an extrusion draw apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the melting tank interfaces with the draw tower via plumbing. 
     
     
         8 . A method of making Li ion conductive sulfide glass, the method comprising:
 i) providing a pre-mix of precursor materials for making the Li ion conductive sulfide glass;   ii) providing a primary vessel for processing the pre-mix to a molten state, wherein the primary vessel has an inner metal sealing layer, wherein the metal of the sealing layer is corrosion resistant and has a melting temperature above the processing temperature of the glass.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the metal of the sealing layer is Au. 
     
     
         10 . A method of making Li ion conductive sulfide glass, the method comprising:
 i) providing a vessel system comprising a primary vessel and an interior secondary vessel, wherein the secondary vessel is vitreous carbon;   ii) loading the secondary vessel with a pre-mix of precursor materials for making Li ion conductive sulfide glass; and   iii) heating the vessel system to a temperature sufficient to melt form the Li-ion conductive sulfur glass.